Accessibility Resources

Accessibility is an umbrella concept: it includes many ideas, concepts and frameworks, that may support or at times be in tension with each other. As a result, what we mean by accessibility may change depending on context.

This page offers a curated list of resources to support the planning of accessible and inclusive events and learning environments. Additionally, we identify key UBC service units that can support you further.

UBC Resources

Event Planning

• UBC Event Diversity Toolkit (Office of the Provost & Vice-President Academic, Vancouver)
• Accessible and Inclusive Event Planning (Equity and Inclusion Office)
  • Checklist for Accessible and Inclusive Event Planning at UBC
• The Welcome Guide inviting visitors to the Okanagan to learn more about the Okanagan Nation prior and during their visit. Includes information about the “Culture and Protocol” we follow, about the local language – nsyilxcən – and offers additional resources for continuing one’s learning journey (Centre for Teaching and Learning)
• Captioning & Interpreting for Events Request Form when there has been a direct request from a presenter or attendee with this accessibility requirement (Disability Resource Centre)
• Accessible Parking Request (Disability Resource Centre)

Teaching & Learning

• Accessibility 101 is a website that provides information on making digital content accessible, including text, images, tables, and multimedia. 
• Accessible Active Learning is a resource that offers a process for modifying and redesigning active learning techniques in order to remove barriers to participation and accommodate learners with disabilities or mental health needs.
• Utilize Canvas’ Accessibility Checker and Immersive Reader (reach out to the Centre for Teaching and Learning for guidance and support)
• DRC Faculty Resource Guide (Canvas course): learn about accommodating students at UBC Okanagan
• Inclusive Technology Lab at UBCO
• OER Accessibility Toolkit: great introductory resource that provides guidance in open and accessible educational resources. Appendices include a Checklist and a 2-page Accessibility Handout. 
• Inclusive Teaching, Module 4: Universal Design for Learning (Canvas module). (Includes lots of examples. Note: it has not been updated yet to incorporate the UDL 3.0 updates.)
• UDL Workshops (usually 1 per term)
• UDL Hub: find resources for developing accessible content using universal design practices
• Open UBC is a curated collection of resources for faculty and students to learn about open scholarship and what it means to teaching, learning and research at UBC
• Program for Open Scholarship and Education (POSE)
• Inclusive Teaching at UBC: a website for UBC educators who want to learn more about inclusive teaching practices
• Accessibility and Inclusivity Considerations for teaching online (Learning Technology Hub) 
• Community of Practice on Access, Inclusion and Place-based Teaching: educators (faculty and staff) explore and share teaching and learning strategies and practices with a focus on how to better centre access and inclusion in active, experiential, and place-based pedagogies
• Engage with each month’s Accessibility Tip from the Centre for Teaching and Learning: subscribe to newsletter (bottom of page) or search the News (select Category: Accessibility)

Overarching

• Respectful Environment Statement (UBC Human Resources)
• Policy LR7 – Disability Accommodation (Office of the University Counsel)
• Designing for Accessibility Guide (Disability Resource Centre)
• Accessible and All Gender Washrooms (Equity and Inclusion Office)

Support Units

• The Centre for Workplace Accessibility is a hub for resources, tools, and programs that help remove barriers for faculty, staff and job candidates with disabilities or ongoing medical conditions. They offer support to improve workplace accessibility using a trauma-informed, person-centred approach. Their initiatives also include projects and workshops designed to build disability inclusion literacy throughout the UBC community.
• The Centre for Teaching and Learning (UBCO) & Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (UBCV) offer consultations and programming on the implementation of inclusive and accessible practices in teaching.
• The Disability Resource Centre (UBCO) & Centre for Accessibility (UBCV) facilitate disability-related accommodations and programming initiatives designed to remove barriers for students with disabilities and ongoing medical conditions in all aspects of university life.
• The Equity and Inclusion Office offers human rights advice, resources, as well as training & education around accessibility and inclusion. The Employment Equity Advisor Program is an opportunity for faculty and staff members involved in hiring to develop their expertise in accessible and equitable hiring practices.
• The Work Reintegration and Accommodation Program (WRAP) provides advice and service around addressing illness, injury and disability for faculty and staff in the workplace.

Non-UBC Resources

Event Planning

• Hosting inclusive meetings and events (Accessibility and Inclusion Toolkit, BC Government)

Teaching & Learning

• Universal Design for Learning:
  • the UDL Guidelines (graphic organizer) is a tool used in the implementation of UDL
  • CAST’s UDL Guidelines 3.0 webinars
• BC Open Collection (BC Campus): free, open, and customizable materials by course or subject
• Open Education at BC Campus
• Faculty Checklist for Evaluating Course Materials
• Forward with FLEXibility: A Teaching and Learning Resource on Accessibility and Inclusion [by brownk33; Alise de Bie; and Kate Brown, Pressbooks]: a comprehensive guidebook created at McMaster University to support educators in applying Accessible Education principles across teaching and learning contexts to enhance access for all.
• Centre on Inclusive Technology & Education Systems (CITES)
• National Centre on Accessible Educational Materials (AEM)

Overarching

• Accessibility and Inclusion Toolkit (BC Government)
  • Accessibility testing and auditing (Accessibility and Inclusion Toolkit, BC Government)
• Accessibility Bites by BC Campus: 30-minute monthly lunchtime learning opportunities. Can access past session recordings and resources.